Signal switch



Patented Aug. 18, 1931 UNITED STATES JAMES M. OSGIAN, OFRACINE'WISCONSIN SIGNAL swrrcn Application filed October 11, 1926.Serial No. 140,915.

This invention relates to signal switches, and is particularly directedto a signal switch for automobiles.

In automobile signalling systems as hereto-- fore constructed, it is theusual practice to provide a switch for the brake pedal so that thefollowing driver is apprised of the fact that the brake is being appliedand, consequently, a stop is indicated. However, there is nointermediate signal for slowing down, prior to this stop signal. Inaddition to this, it frequently happens that drivers have differentorders in which they press the brake and clutch pedals. Some driversapply the brake before they open the clutch, while others open theclutch before. they apply the brake and, consequently, the standardsignal does not function to meet all conditions.

This invention is designed to overcome the 30 defects noted above andobjects of this nvention are to provide a novel form of mgnal switch forautomobiles related to a signal.

system in which a warning signal and a sto signal are both provided, andin which the warning signal is operated from either the brake or theclutch pedal, so that the action of the system is the same, whicheverorder of operation of the pedals is followed, and to further provide thesystem with means for giving a stop signal after the warning signal hasebeen given, when both pedals are depressed.

Further objects are to provide a very simple and easily applied type ofswitch which will accommodate itsel to standard makes of automobileswith a minimum of work.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing inwhich The single figure is a sectional view throu h the switch, showingdiagrammatically t e connections to the pedals and the electricalsystem.

Referring to the drawing, it will be seen,

and 9. The contacts and are electrically connected, and the contacts 5and 9 are also electrically connected. These connections may be made byforming the contacts integral with a connecting strip, as shown in theto drawing and indicated by the reference characters 10, 11, and 12.These strips may be secured to an insulating portion of the switch.

It is to be noted that the contacts are arranged one behind the other intandem, and 00 that a pair of plungers 13 and 14 are slidably mountedwithin the casing 1, and are urged rearwardly in a. yielding manner, asby means of the springs 15 and 16. The outer ends of these plungers areconnected to the brake 05 pedal 13 and the clutch pedal O by means ofcables or similar members, indicated at 17 and 18. Preferably, aspring'19 is interposed in eachof these members.

The electrical system utilizes the ordinary 70 battery 20 of theautomobile, one side of which is ground, as indicated at 21. From theother side of the-battery, a conductor 22 extends to the contact strip12 and also tothe stationary contact 6. The strip 11 is connected bymeans of the conductor23 to one side of the warning lamp 2 1, the otherside of thelamp being grounded, as indicated at 25. The stationarycontact 2 is connected by means of the conductor 26 to one side of thestop lamp 27, the other side of such lamp being grounded, as indicatedat 28.

The lamps 24 and 27 may have the legends Slow or Warning, and Stopformed thereon, if desired, or may be differently colored ordifi'erently positioned to indicate their respective significance.

In using the apparatus consider, for example, the case when the brakepedal is depressed. This closes the circuit from the bat- W tery 20 tothe warning lamp 24 through the conductor 22, the stationarv contacts 8and 9,

the movable contacts 29 carried by the plunger 13, and the conductor 23.On the other hand, if the clutch pedal had been depressed,

the electrical circuit from the battery 20 would have been comple ed tothe warning lamp through the conductor 22, the stationary contacts 6 and7, the movable contacts 30 carried by the plunger 14, and the conductor23.

Thus when either of the pedals is depressed the warning lamp isilluminated.

In addition to the movable contacts 29 and 80, the plungers 13 and llcarry the movable contacts 31 and 32 respectively, which cooperate withthe first series of stationary contacts described above. Thus, when afull stop is to be made both pedals are depressed and, in addition tothe illumination of the warning lamp, the stop lamp is also illuminated,as it-is connected to the battery by means of the conductor 22. thestationary contacts l and 5, the movable contact 31, the stationarycontacts 2 and 3, the movable contact 32, and the conductor 26.

In other words, the stop lamp is illuminated only when both pedals aredepressed and, consequently, the stop signal is given only when a stopis actually intended, or when a very great change in speed is effected.

Under other conditions where a slight change in speed is made, thewarning lamp alone is illuminated. It will be seen, therefore, that anovel form of signal has been provided by this invention and that a verysimple type of switch is contemplated, which may be easily connected tothe brake and clutch pedals of a standard automobile with a minimum ofeffort. Further, it will be seen that the action of the switch isindependent of the peculiar manner in which the driver operates theclutch and brake pedals and will accommodate either of the two describedmodes of operation. Further, it will be seen that first a warning signalis given, and thereafter a stop signal. It will be noted further thatthe stop signal is given only when a stop is actually intended, or elsewhen a very pronounced change in speed is to be made.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, suchdescription is intended as illustrative rather than limiting as theinvention may be variously embodied and as the scope of such inventionis to be determined as claimed.

I claim:

A switch including a casing, parallel plates arranged centrally of thecasing, stationary contacts on the ends of said plates, spacedstationary contacts carried by the casing at one side thereof andarranged in spaced opposed relation with the contacts on one end of theparallel plates, a contact strip carried by the casing, stationarycontacts carried by the ends of the strip and arranged in spaced opposedrelation with the contacts on the other end of the parallel plates, saidcontact strip being of a length equal to the combined width of theparallel plates and the space between the same, rods movable between theopposed contacts on opposite sides of the casing and yieldable opposedcontacts carried by said rods on opposite sides of said rods arrangedthe county of Milwaukee and State of Visconsin.

JAMES M. OSGIAN.

